Tens of thousands of lung disease sufferers are experiencing “systematic neglect” by the health system because of “misconceptions” around smoking, a leading charity has warned.

The British lung foundation (BLF) yesterday said the badly needed improvement in diagnoses and treatment of lung conditions was not yet happening because it was assumed the problem would improve with the decline of smoking.

However, of the roughly 115,000 deaths that occur each year due to lung diseases, only around half are directly attributed to smoking.

The charity, which has recently concluded a three-year epidemiological study of lung conditions, said the death rate had barely changed in the last decade and called for public funding of lung disease research to be put on an equal footing with cancer and cardiovascular research funding.

Dr Penny Woods, BLF Chief Executive, said: “Tackling smoking will help reduce rates of lung disease, as it will rates of many other conditions.

“But it can’t be the only solution.

Dr Richard Russell, senior lecturer at Imperial College London, said: “We don’t know why lung disease doesn’t get the same level of attention, but part of the problem could be the perception that lung disease is solely smoking-related, and that those affected bring it on themselves.